Tunis, 21 Rabiul Akhir 1434/3 March 2013 (MINA) – Tunisian President Mouncef Marzouk on Friday (2/3) extend the three-month state of emergency in Tunisia since the revolution of 2011, as the country was hit by the worst crisis.

According to the Daily News Egypt as quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA), the decision was taken after consultation with the caretaker Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali and Chairman of the National Constituent Assembly Mustapha Ben Jaafar, they extended a state of emergency until June 3.

The state of emergency was declared in the north African country since 14 January 2011, in the midst of the efforts of citizens to overthrow Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia’s president who led since 1987.

Since then, the measure has been renewed regularly, either on a month-to-month basis or for three months at a time.

Tunisia is facing a crisis after the assassination of left-wing politicians Chokri Belaid on February 6, in which the opposition accused the Islamists conducting the murder. Later, clashes between protesters and police occurred as the largest anti-government protests since the revolution.

The opposition accused Ehnada party, the Islamist ruling party, as the mastermind behind Belaid’s murder. However, there is no evidence to justify their allegations.

As a result of the protests, Tunisia held cross-party talks to find a solution to end the crisis in the country. Tunisia’s Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali on Saturday (16/2) held negotiations at the Carthage Palace in Tunis after a wave of protests recently led to the dissolution of the government.

In these talks, Jebali urged all parties to exercise restraint and not inflame the situation even worse. He has consulted with a number of leaders of the party after he agreed to set up a government of technocrats.

Having failed to establish a technocrats’ government, as promised, Jebali resigned on Tuesday (19/2) as prime minister of Tunisia. (T/P03/E1)